REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TUBAN -- Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman conducted a hybrid corn harvest in Sumber village, Meraurak sub-district, Tuban, East Java, on Wednesday.
"We are glad that production has reached 9.2 tons per hectare. Moreover, the price is good," he stated during a working visit to conduct a grand harvest in Tuban.
He noted that the local government had requested to increase the land for corn plantation to one thousand hectares in 2016.
Setiabudi, the chief of the farmers and fishermen group, remarked that 517 hectares of corn plantations are ready for harvest in Tubah, while 733 hectares can be harvested by October.
The corn production increased up to 9.2 tons per hectare in 2015.
"This year, there is an increase in production from a level of seven to eight tons per hectare several years ago to eight to 9.2 tons per hectare now," he claimed.
The price of dry peeled corn now stands at Rp3.2 thousand per kilogram, and it is good for the farmers, he pointed out.
He affirmed that the agriculture minister had to continue controlling imports and providing the required drainage infrastructure as the region often gets flooded during the rainy season.
Setiabudi also sought an additional fertilizer subsidy during the dialog with the minister.
In response to it, the minister stated that the government will continue to strengthen the agricultural sector by improving infrastructure and controlling imports.
During a grand corn harvest in the village of Prunggahan Kulon in the sub-district of Semanding, Minister Sulaiman operated a combine harvester in the company of an operator.
The corn harvested is from BISI 18 seed produced by PT Bisi International, and it has been planted on a 50-hectare plot of land.
The minister emphasized the importance of cooperation between stakeholders, including private businesses, to realize national food self-sufficiency.
"We wish to see our farmers in a good condition, and businessmen being good partners," he added.
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